Organic trees available at Van den Berk Nurseries

The company began cultivating organic trees in 2016. Following a total transition period of three years, one of which was exclusively for the soil, they started with a small test plot. Each successive year a new plot has been added. In the coming years Van den Berk will continue to scale up the production of organic trees.

Quality
The results are positive: these are healthy, excellent quality trees that are on a par with similar trees cultivated elsewhere in the nursery. This is partly because over the past 15 years the company has substantially reduced the use of plant protection products in its cultivation. As a result a great deal of knowledge about alternative cultivation methods and resources has been accumulated. Organic tree cultivation is a natural fit with these developments, and the experiences have been encouraging. The cultivation process is more labour-intensive, however, which means that the prices are higher than those for our regular cultivated stock.

SKAL bio-control 
The designation 'organic' is protected by law. A product may be called organic if it is certified according to the applicable European regulations. The path to organic cultivation starts with a conversion period for the soil. The soil must first be free of residues. Once the plot has been approved, organic cultivation can begin. Normally with biological starting material, but that was hardly available on the market. Van den Berk had to start the first cultivation with alternative material, but the legislation provides for this because the cycle has to start somewhere. During organic cultivation, crop protection may then only be carried out in a natural and mechanical way and the use of mineral fertilizers is prohibited. There are also regulations with regard to aids and cleaning them. In the Netherlands, Skal Biocontrol is the organization that supervises the organic chain. They check the plots and products and are responsible for issuing the certificates.

Available in 2020
The first organic trees are available in November 2020. The available sizes are 18-20 and 20-25 cm. stem circumference. It concerns among others Betula pendula ´Zwitsers Glorie´ , Amelanchier ´Ballerina´, Liquidambar stryraciflua, Acer freemanii ´Celzam´, Gleditsia triacanthos ´Shademaster´, and Acer campestre ´Elsrijk´. Almost all trees are standard trees.

TREEVOLUTION
This week Van den Berk also introduces TREEVOLUTION, its ´Virtual knowledge lab´. It concerns a company-wide scheme in which ideas are developed and tested in order to obtain concrete products and applications. The goal is to give trees in urban environments more opportunities, making use of the knowledge and experience available within all departments of the company. Van den Berk works, with its customers and partners, on issues such as: How can we jointly benefit more from green in a fast-changing world? Which tree species appear to be climate resistant? Can we select better cultivars? How do we grow these sustainable and efficient? How can more trees be planted in urban areas? How do we also give those trees a future?
Working on this is a continuous process. The findings and results are now shared under the name TREEVOLUTION. The introduction of the organic trees is one of the first items to be presented.